Hi folks,
New to the forum and to Acura products. While I am enjoying my new TL tremendously, I have noticed a couple of issues and wanted to share.

1. Clunk from undercarriage right after shifting from park to D and start driving. This happens every single time. First I thought might be the door locks engaging, but the sound definitely comes from undercarriage so now I wonder if there is a tranny problem

2. A-pilar on passenger side - black plastic cover seems/feels loose. when I wash the car it "moves" in place as opposed to the others that are solid. Quality problem at assembly seems like, will have it taken care of at next dealer visit

3. FM/AM radio reception interference when defroster is activated. this is the first time I see it happen on a vehicle. whenever I activate the rear window defroster I get nothing but white noise in the radio. XM and Nav still work and would expect so due to using the rooftop antenna.

I was wondering if anyone had noticed the same. A search of the site didn't yield much, but then again I am new so I may not be searching correctly.

 

I have not noticed any of those issues myself. I don't think I have actually had to turn on the rear defroster yet, so I'll try and remember to check that in conjunction with the radio and see what happens.

 

The clunk noise is apparently a design characteristic of the car, they all do it. It tends to happen when its cold. If you take off from park very slowly you can lessen the noise.

The reception issue and loose trim sounds broken though, would tell the dealer.

 

Eli, so it is the tranny? the clunk is almost like a mechanical part engaging another. I worry that over time whatever is causing it may wear out and fail.

 

I'd have the dealer check the clunk. Make sure they note it on the service record too - even if they don't find/fix anything. That way you have some recourse if it turns out to be a problem later.

 

good point str8aero. This will be my first service experience with this particular dealer, I am interested to see if it is as good as the one I use for my wife's Oddy minivan

 

from what i have heard the clunk is the abs system checking itself. all hondas/acuras do this it most noticeable when the car isnt warmed up.

 

I had my 2009 TL at the dealer for the clunk noise. They said it was the trans engaging and is normal...... depends on what normal is I guess.

 

I have this clunking noise too when shifting between Park and Drive, even when the car is warmed up. Never wondered about it until now. I'll check with the dealer next week when I bring it in for rattles. I believe I read elsewhere that it's normal.

 

Leased my 2010 TL Tech in March. This summer here in NY has been very hot. I noticed that the A/C was not that cold. Put an instant read thermometer in the center vent, 48 degrees. Would not go any further . Tried everything auto, off auto nothing. The recirculation button lights up but when you press the button to turn off or on, no difference in fan speed nor do you hear the door closing. However when you have the a/c off and in the vent mode it works. crazy. My 06 TSX has none of these issues. a/c goes down to 40 easily. Took car to dealer and of course they say it is normal. Thats total BS and i told them that, Took the TL to my own mechanic. He evacuated the system and recharged. No difference. Went to another Acura dealer. The a/c in his TL went down to 40-42 degrees. They will check the a/c. Hopefully they will find the problem. The service advisor said there is a valve that allows hot water into the heater core and maybe it is not closed all the way. We will find out.

 

never noticed, theres alot of "clunk" threads

There are two types of clunks.. both mentioned in thread

1) click/engaging type clunk.... this is, the transmission shiting into gear. most cars make a noise when the tranny shifts

2) low sound thud - ABS engaging/testing... my 06,08,09 & 10 TL does this, as well as the wifeys 03 CL-S... the CL-S also makes an electronic zip/grindy sound before it thumps.

 

Brake calipers I was told on my 2005.

 

Yes I hear it every morning when my wife backs out of the driveway and puts it in drive and hits the gas (Click/Clunk) whatever you want to call it. It's done it since day one. There are other threads on this site about it and it's supposed to be normal?
I friggin hate the noise and it bugs the shit out of me!